Category: history and heritage

The National Military Memorial

The National Military Memorial is one of Bengaluru’s hidden gems. Situated adjacent to Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain Park in the heart of Bengaluru and conceived in the early 2000s and formally established in 2013, the National Military Memorial (also known as Rashtriya Sainika Smaraka) was initiated by the Government of Karnataka as a tribute to the armed forces and their families who sacrificed for the nation.

What you can expect

The Memorial spans 7.5 acres of urban green space (thoughtfully preserved during construction) and was designed by Bengaluru’s Mathew and Ghosh Architects, the Memorial is structured along a ceremonial ‘ritual path’ of angled granite plaques, each bearing etched names of over 22,000 martyrs..

A towering 65-metre flagpole (approximately 207 ft) stands nearby, intended to fly the country’s largest flag. Also situated nearby is the Veeragallu or hero-stone, monumental in both scale and significance, 75 ft tall and weighing 700 tonnes.

To enrich the Memorial’s narrative, various military artifacts and models are displayed across the grounds. Some examples of the exhibits are:

• A MiG-23 BN aircraft (donated by the Indian Air Force) mounted in a climbing posture
• An Arjun Main Battle Tank, and a model of INS Mysore (naval ship)
• Mobile bridging equipment from Tatra and scaled models of missiles (Agni, Prithvi, BrahMos, Akash) from DRDO.

Sketching at the Military Memorial

The National Military Memorial offers plenty of subjects for those who wish to draw there. The park, lawns and pathways contrast with the geometry of the granite plaques provide interesting compositional ideas. The flagpole and the monumental Veeragallu hero-stone, in particular, invite dramatic perspectives and studies of scale.

The Memorial is a public park, so artists are free to sit and draw, but it is worth remembering that this is also a site of remembrance to fallen soldiers. So respectful behaviour is important.

Since this is a public space, you can carry a slighly more elaborate setup than you would to a museum. Watercolourists in particular love this venue because if the greenery and the soft play of light on stone. Early mornings and evenings are especially rewarding for artists because of fewer people at this park.

Indian Military Memorial: Address and MAP

2 Millers Road, Vasanth Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560051

The Memorial is well-connected by bus, auto rickshaw, taxi, and is a short walk from Cubbon Park metro station (~15 min) and the GPO bus stand (~10 min)
.

Set in the heart of Cubbon Park, is a striking red-painted building designed in classical European style. It features Tuscan and Corinthian columns, triangular gables, and tall arched windows. This is the Sheshadri Iyer Memorial Hall. It is framed by lush greenery and fronted by a carefully maintained rose garden.

The State Central Library within the Memorial is the apex of Karnataka’s public library system, governed by the State Library Authority. With a collection of over 265,000 books, it serves students, researchers, and general readers alike.

A Brief History

Built in 1915, the Seshadri Iyer Memorial Hall was erected to honour Sir K. Seshadri Iyer, Dewan of Mysore State from 1883 to 1901. Under his leadership, the state saw major reforms in infrastructure and education, including the commissioning of the famous Shivanasamudra hydroelectric project that powered Bengaluru.

The Memorial was conceived not just as an architectural landmark, but as a cultural beacon—a space that would nurture knowledge, literacy, and public life in the heart of Bengaluru. Today, it houses the State Central Library, popularly known as the Seshadri Memorial Library.

Sketching at the Sheshadri Memorial Hall

Cubbon Park is a public space, which means that you may carry with you any kind of drawing equipment. The Seshadri Iyer Memorial Hall is a great subject to paint, with its bold red façade framed by green parkland, all of which create striking contrasts.

Artists can easily find quiet corners to sketch without distraction. A medium-sized sketchbook (A4) is ideal for capturing the building’s proportions, and simple watercolours or coloured pencils can be used to bring out the vivid reds and greens of the scene.

Address and MAP

Tucked away on Bengaluru’s busy Palace Road is one of India’s most important spaces for modern and contemporary art: the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA).

The NGMA in Bengaluru has been a perennial favourite with Jammers. With its spacious halls, serene gardens, and a rich line up of exhibitions, talks, and workshops, it invites us to explore India’s artistic journey from the 18th century to today.

Artist: Smitha Shivaswamy | Medium: Gouache

I enjoy using gouache because it lets me layer the strokes and makes the brushwork very clear. I cannot use gouache inside the gallery, but I can paint outside, in the gardens and the cafe. I painted these on location. It took me about an hour to complete each painting.

Smitha Shivaswamy

A Brief History

The idea for a National Gallery of Modern Art was first born after India gained independence, with the New Delhi NGMA opening its doors in 1954, followed by a gallery in Mumbai. The Bengaluru NGMA is the newest of the three National Galleries. As a long-standing center for artistic and intellectual life, Bengaluru was a natural choice for such an institution.

The Story of the Manickyavelu Mansion

The building that houses the NGMA, the Manickyavelu Mansion, was built over a century ago. The mansion once belonged to the wealthy Manickyavelu family, who were part of Bengaluru’s elite. With its wide verandas, high ceilings, and sprawling gardens, the house is a beautiful example of colonial-era architecture.

Artist: Smitha Shivaswamy | Medium: Graphite Pencil

Its history, however, goes back even further. The land originally belonged to the Wodeyar dynasty of Mysore before it was passed down to aristocratic families and wealthy mine owners. Manickyavelu Mudaliar, a successful businessman who made his fortune in mining, purchased the property in the early 20th century and gave it its name. The mansion saw the changing fortunes of Bengaluru’s elite, and after the family’s decline, it was eventually taken over by the government.

Many Bengaluru residents walked past it every day without knowing the stories it held. It wasn’t until the early 2000s that the building was restored and reborn as the Bengaluru branch of the NGMA.

Artist: Smitha Shivaswamy | Medium: Pen and Wash

Sketching at the NGMA

For those of us who sketch, the NGMA is a goldmine of inspiration. The building itself, with its grand facade, leafy courtyards, and intricate railings, offers endless subjects to be drawn.

Some Jammers prefer to sketch in the gardens while others prefer the cafe space. You can sit under a century-old tree in the gardens, capture the colonial arches of the mansion, or wander inside to sketch the exhibits.

Artist: George Supreeth | Medium: Pen, Watercolour and Coloured Pencils

I drew these exhibits at the NGMA using a waterproof gel pen. At the gallery, my focus was on drawing and making notes. I took plenty of pictures to identify the colours. Back home, I used watercolour and coloured pencils to add some colour to my sketches.

George Supreeth

It is important to note however that wet media such as watercolour and acrylic are obviously not allowed. Neither are easels, nor for that matter, bags, but no one will object if you draw in a small A4 or A5 sketchbook.

More than the architecture or the collection, what makes sketching at the NGMA so special is the atmosphere. Unlike the hurried pace of the city outside, the gallery slows you down. It encourages you to pause, notice details, and take in the way light and shadow play across the old wooden staircases or the sculptural forms on the lawns. Sketching becomes a way of honoring the building, the art, and the simple act of seeing.

Artist: George Supreeth | Medium: Black Brushpen

Packing for a day of Sketching at the NGMA

Since the NGMA is at the heart of the city, you don;t need to carry too many things, so pack light. If you intend to draw within the gallery, then carry a small sketchbook, one that you can cradle in your arms. An A5 or A4 sized sketchbook will work just fine.

Carry non-messy art material for gallery drawing. Pencils, pens or brushpens are good choices. If you’d like to add colour, consider carrying colour pendils or brushpens in a small belt pouch or fanny bag.

If you plan on drawing in the gardens, or at the cafe, you have more options. You can carry a small watercolour palette and larger sketchbooks too. Small portable easels are fine as long as they don’t attract too much attention or disrupts the functioning at NGMA.

NGMA: Address and Map